The state of the economy affects you in a tangible way – even more so if you invest. The first half of 2026 has reminded us why we keep coming back to one simple idea: nobody can predict The Markets, but everybody can prepare for them. In this Economic Review, we recap the events that moved The Markets in the first six months of the year, at home and abroad.
A calm, confident start to the year, then a sharp jolt in March. Here is what shaped the first quarter of 2026, and what it means for the long-term investor.
The third quarter of 2025 was marked by strong equity performance across the globe.
Markets continued to climb, supported by the U.S.-China trade truce, the Federal Reserve’s 25-basis point rate cut, and renewed AI optimism following record spending by tech giants like OpenAI, Nvidia, and AMD.
Marked by heightened geopolitical tensions, policy uncertainty, and uneven economic performance. Globally, investor sentiment was weighed down by renewed concerns over trade tariffs following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of wide-ranging tariff measures.
The state of the economy impacts you in a tangible way – even more so if you invest. Globally, The Markets were mostly positive in Q1 2024, while the local markets were influenced by uncertainty over the national elections.
The 2024 investment outlook looks at the connections between economic uncertainties and geopolitical shifts, and how this translates into diverse investment strategies. The resounding emphasis is on caution and professional guidance for risk management.
